That's great because Diaz was never going to make it, having been superseded by new signee Jose Iglesias from Cuba (probably start in Portland or maybe Salem), and Yamico Navarro (in Salem, but now probably on his way to Portland). This clears one of those spots on the 40 man, too.

Agreed, but I am speculating I guess on why Laroche picks up so much in the second half of the year in terms of familiarity with pitching after having faced most of the league once.

Counter-speculations: he likes the warmer months as a hitter. But then he sees AL pitching for the first time and doesn't hit like Bay. But THEN maybe Bay gives him the book on these pitchers and they both become the new millenium Bash Bros. We both are agreed that we're drifting away from quantifiable "truthiness" - and on LaRoche strengthening the team's bench, especially if it limits Lowell's petrification in the field.

Argenis Diaz? Are you kidding me, Theo? Absolutely indefensible move. Adam LaRoche is not the kind of player you deal a potential MLB starting SS for.

This. When you're in a pennant race you never trade a AA guy with 619 OPS for a seasoned pro at a need position with a career 824 OPS. If you're going to give up a guy like Diaz, you should be getting a borderline allstar.

It's probably worth about a game or two to the Sox in the standings due to the following things1)Playing instead of Lowell against some RHP.2)Lowell possibly being able to contribute some down the stretch in the games he DOES play with the add'l rest.3)Sox aren't stuck with the Kotsay at 1B scenario that hurt them in the playoffs last year during the regular season if Lowell goes down for good.

I would bet that the Sox got him for a song, took the $ off the Pirates hands and gave up some one that would never play for the Sox. We'll see what washes out.

You left out 4) Any game that Grandpa Lowell does play and the Sox have a lead after 7 innings, they bring LaRoche in to play first and move Youkilis to third and have an ambulatory third baseman

Argenis Diaz? Are you kidding me, Theo? Absolutely indefensible move. Adam LaRoche is not the kind of player you deal a potential MLB starting SS for.

You're joking, right?

I think it's safe to say that Sox Prospect's slobbering of Diaz was a little premature, as he's been an error machine in the minors so far. Couple that with a .682 career MiLB OPS (.619 this season) and there is probably a less than 10% chance that Diaz ever becomes a starting MLB SS. There's probably a less than 50% chance that he ever even makes the majors.

Meanwhile, there's a 100% chance that Adam LaRoche contributes in some way to a team fighting for a World Series.

Counter-speculations: he likes the warmer months as a hitter. But then he sees AL pitching for the first time and doesn't hit like Bay. But THEN maybe Bay gives him the book on these pitchers and they both become the new millenium Bash Bros. We both are agreed that we're drifting away from quantifiable "truthiness" - and on LaRoche strengthening the team's bench, especially if it limits Lowell's petrification in the field.

Dumb. Laws of physics being what they are - all hitters hit better in warmer weather.

QUOTE (JulE6 @ Jul 22 2009, 01:11 PM)

Argenis Diaz? Are you kidding me, Theo? Absolutely indefensible move. Adam LaRoche is not the kind of player you deal a potential MLB starting SS for.

Dumber. He's 22 and hitting .250 for the Sea Dogs right now with no pop. If all the stars align perfectly, and some teammate injects him with B12, the guy's upside is Calvin Reese Jr.

We go out and get a pretty damn good player who provides very important depth (important because our thrid baseman runs like Charlie Hough and has the same hip) and people are upset?

I really don't get it.

Is there a Yeiper Fan Club I am unaware of or did LaRoche rape a baby or something? He's 29, has had an OPS+ every year he's been in the league, is a very good 2nd half player and has playoff expierence.

I'm pretty fucking pumped about this. Now we don't need to worry about our third baseman needing a wheelchair in the playoffs.

I agree with your points, but LaRoche is not the saviour we need. I agree with the guys saying he would be a good platoon player, but if thats the case, I dont see how we gain any wins with limited playing time. Sure, he will be handy if Lowell dies, but this is hardly a season changing trade. In conclusion, its a pointless move since he is moving to the more difficult AL, and hits noticeably less against lefties.

This is entirely in keeping with how the Sox conduct their in-season business, provided a key player doesn't sulk (Nomar) or shoot (Manny) his way out of town. If this is the beginning and end of their dealings, nobody can be much surprised.

Not surprised at all. I called this in the 1B/3B thread and in the Pirates thread in the adopt-a-team forum. LaRoche is adequate at first and has a great attitude. He will fit in well with the club and his left-handed bat and fly ball tendencies will play well at Fenway and new Yankee stadium.

I am surprised left handed reliever John Grabow is not in the deal. I think that he would probable cost a MDC. Jack Wilson and Freedy Sanchez are on the block, but the Bucs need middle infielders to replace them. Wilson is also out with a slight hammy injury.

Any move that keeps Mike Lowell off the field is a good move. That said, this move better be about depth and nothing more. LaRoche can get the job done against righties, but this lineup needs a far bigger boost.

Fortunate that the Red Sox don't need a savior then. They're one of the best teams in baseball, currently in line for a playoff spot, and don't have a particularly grueling schedule coming up.

LaRoche is a good player, who may have been unlucky on balls in play this year, (PrOPS of .269/.348/.452). He plays a position that helps the team, and plays it decently and platoons well with a player who needs a bunch of rest. We gave up nothing to get him.

I'm fairly ambivalent about this trade. There's little question that his acquisition improves the team, without giving up much of anything. In the abstract, it's a good trade. I think some of the dissenters are concerned more with the fact that LaRoche will be occupying a roster spot than anything else. It appears we now have our full complement of corner infielders for the stretch run, as I cannot imagine any of those three guys being moved. That's fine, and LaRoche is certainly better than Kotsay. But if you think that the team's offense as currently constructed isn't good enough, Adam LaRoche is not going to do much to change your mind. And any hope, however slim it may be, for a middle-of-the-order corner infield bat (Martinez, Gonzalez, etc.) is pretty much gone.

Certainly, a lot can happen between now and the deadline, or even up until August 31st. But to me, the LaRoche trade makes any major shakeup of the offense very unlikely - the best opportunity to do that was a trade for a corner IF who would replace Mark Kotsay. I suppose they could still trade Lowell to make that move, but if that was going to be that case, wouldn't you want Kotsay's versatility in a backup role rather than LaRoche's offense?

I'm not at all surprised by the move, as I never expected much else. And really, the difference between LaRoche and, say, Huff or Johnson really isn't much at all. I think the offense is "good enough" now that the Sox have some insurance for Lowell. But for those who disagree, I can see why this move is such a disappointment.

There is the fear that Tito will keep playing Lowell regardless of the LaRoche acquisition.

I hope Tito remembers mentioning this during the Natstown series in June:

QUOTE

..."I should have probably sat him a few times. I didn't and I need to do better in that area."

One month, one DL-stint and one immediately scheduled rest against TOR later, with the LaRoche trade I hope Tito/Lowell can be eased into a new way of thinking (more rest, a platoon) without ruffling feathers. Tito had to do it with sliding Ortiz in the lineup earlier this year so there's precedent.

Corresponding roster move to me would have to be deleting a reliever. With Van Every out for the season, Kotsay seems to be better than every option in AAA as a defensive outfielder, so you wouldn't want to lose him.

Considering how weak the SS position is on the big league team you hate to see us give up a guy like Diaz who might start some day (he's struggling this season but he's 22 and has hit decently in the past.) All things considered though, who cares?

I would have rather had Victor Martinez or Adrian Gonzalez but the cost involved in getting LaRoche was virtually nil. We would have had to give up more to get Nick Johnson... and ESPN brings up a good point. LaRoche has torn up the second half the last few years. LaRoche is coming to a better park for hitters, has a former teammate on the Sox and he's hit .314/.374/.578 for the last 3 years after the break. Not only that, but he's playing for a contract AND the playoffs.

It's usually my nature to try and immediately find the good in something, but I don't think I'm crazy for liking this move.

The offense still isn't great but someone like LaRoche can contribute a little, and shake things up. Lowell and Papi will stay more rested this season and that can only help the offense. Getting an MLB quality rental for a couple fringe guys is a nice deal.

According to WEEI's Alex Speier, the Pirates will receive shortstop Argenis Diaz and right-hander Hunter Strickland from the Red Sox for Adam LaRoche.

Diaz, a 22-year-old Venezuelan, was batting .253/.309/.310 with no home runs, 24 RBI and seven stolen bases this season for Double-A Portland. He has a great glove, but may never be a good enough hitter to land a starting gig in the majors. Strickland, 20, was 5-4 with a 3.35 ERA and a 51/13 K/BB ratio for Single-A Greenville. It's a nice inpouring of youth for the Pirates, but we're definitely not dealing with top prospects here

Considering how weak the SS position is on the big league team you hate to see us give up a guy like Diaz who might start some day (he's struggling this season but he's 22 and has hit decently in the past.) All things considered though, who cares?

FWIW, he's going to be replaced in Portland by a SS who is already a better prospect than him.

I'm down with this move if it removes Kotsay from the back-up 1Bman job (which I can only assume it does).

I'd love to see Tito put Lowell/LaRoche into a straight platoon for lefties and righties. Lowell clearly cannot play effectively every day with his hip. Time for Tito to 'put him in a position to succeed' and limit his at-bats.

I'm satisfied with this as a fix to the Lowell-Everyday problem. It's not going to turn our lineup into a dynamo, but that's not the point of the move. (by the way, getting Bay and Drew out of their slumps is what it's going to take for that to happen and a trade is unlikely to accomplish that on its own)

Considering how weak the SS position is on the big league team you hate to see us give up a guy like Diaz who might start some day (he's struggling this season but he's 22 and has hit decently in the past.) All things considered though, who cares?

Have you read the thread? The chances of him starting for the Sox at the Major League level are . . . remote.

I'll eat TRic's hat if he ever is above replacement value on a Major League team.

I don't see what there is to complain about. They picked up a 29 year old with a career .824 OPS who hits 20-30 HR per season (and is even better against RHP). He's likely going to platoon with Lowell, and they didn't give up much to get him. How is this a bad thing?

Solid trade for the Sox. LaRoche is a second half guy and I think being around former teammate Bay and in a playoff hunt will energize him. It did not cost the Sox anything whereas Gonzalez or even Nick "Pvt Pyle" Johnson were going to cost the Sox arms. Good move. I like it.

According to WEEI's Alex Speier, the Pirates will receive shortstop Argenis Diaz and right-hander Hunter Strickland from the Red Sox for Adam LaRoche.

Diaz, a 22-year-old Venezuelan, was batting .253/.309/.310 with no home runs, 24 RBI and seven stolen bases this season for Double-A Portland. He has a great glove, but may never be a good enough hitter to land a starting gig in the majors. Strickland, 20, was 5-4 with a 3.35 ERA and a 51/13 K/BB ratio for Single-A Greenville. It's a nice inpouring of youth for the Pirates, but we're definitely not dealing with top prospects here

No I meant, who from the 25-man roster goes....Buchholz, Masterson, and Bard are the only ones with options left.

I've really warmed up to this move. A bat that traditionally heats up in the 2nd half, provides Lowell insurance, who has the possibility to hit even better now that he's actually playing for a contender? For basically nothing? Good trade. I'd prefer someone like a Victor Martinez, obviously, but I should get my head of the clouds - that's not happening.